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Open power tariff to boost investment opportunities: PM

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that settling of an open tariff was of national interest which would pave the way for investors to make investments in the power sector without wasting time.

He was chairing the 10th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) at the PM’s Secretariat on Thursday.The meeting also decided to constitute a Standing Committee of CCI which would be headed by Secretary, Inter-Provincial Coordination Division as Chairman with Joint Secretary CCI, Federal Law Secretary and Secretaries Inter-Provincial Coordination of Provincial Governments as its members.

The committee would examine and scrutinize the cases and issues enumerated in Federal Legislative List (Part II) which are to be placed before the CCI.The prime minister said that Nepra should have in house capability and expertise to determine up front tariff for Power Plant run on coal, wind, solar, bio-gas, gas, oil etc. The tariff should be such that it should provide incentives and attract the investors

The meeting was also informed that work on Draft Electricity Law needs to be expedited. The prime minister also directed Secretary Water & Power in her capacity as Secretary Cabinet Division to coordinate with NEPRA for working out a front tariff.

The meeting was informed that the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have notified the police officials and other staff to help the distribution companies in the recovery of dues and check theft.

The issue of renaming of Ministry of Professional and Technical Training as Ministry of Education and Training was deferred for the next meeting of the CCI.The meeting also discussed the report of the committee constituted by the CCI for giving its recommendations for equitable distribution of electricity in the country.